On the occasion of the launch of the global campaign “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence”, the Europe House opened the exhibition The Power of Women in Comics (WOMCOM). This initiative, supported through the Creative Europe program, aims to foster collaboration and engagement among female comic artists, explore gender issues in comics, and empower women comic artists through residencies, exhibitions, and conferences.

At the opening, Plamena Halacheva, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, emphasized that the WOMCOM exhibition celebrates the voices and perspectives of women comic artists from across Europe.

“By exploring themes of gender, identity, and empowerment, WOMCOM amplifies underrepresented voices in the comics industry, providing a platform for diverse artistic expressions and encouraging cross-border collaboration,” Halacheva said. She also highlighted that the EU Delegation in Serbia has once again joined the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign this year.

“Gender-based violence, both online and offline, represents a serious violation of human rights that undermines the fundamental values of the EU, weakens social cohesion, and slows economic development,” she emphasized. “In today’s digital age, we reaffirm our determination to combat online and technology-facilitated violence, ensure accountability for perpetrators, and build a safer digital space for all women and girls.”

The WOMCOM project involves organizations from six Balkan countries: the Student Cultural Center Novi Sad (SKCNS) in Serbia; Bakelit Multi Art Center in Budapest, Hungary; Kino Šiška in Ljubljana, Slovenia; PostScriptum in Athens, Greece; Autonomous Cultural Center Attack in Zagreb, Croatia; and the Association for the Promotion of Comics in Budva, Montenegro.

Marija Popović, coordinator of the WOMCOM project at the Student Cultural Center Novi Sad, emphasized at the opening that the project was created with the aim of increasing the visibility of female artists and creators.

“We held four artistic residencies in Croatia, Hungary, Montenegro, and Serbia, where women had, for the first time, the opportunity to create collectively, exchange experiences, and learn from one another,” Popović said. She added that this exhibition is the result of those residencies and the exchange of ideas and experiences.

During the exhibition opening, visitors had the opportunity to meet young comic artists  Sara Novaković and Staša Miladinović and witness firsthand how comic strips are created.

“UNITED to Stop Digital Violence Against Women and Girls” is the theme of this year’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, which begins on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls, and concludes on 10 December, Human Rights Day. Unfortunately, violence against women and girls remains one of the most widespread human rights violations worldwide. This year as well, the EU Delegation to Serbia joins the global campaign by highlighting these critical issues.